Inclosed switch



Patented Nov. 23, 1926 y UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE.

BENJAMIN-E. GETCHELL, OF PLAINVILLE,

CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T THE TRUM- BULL ELECTRIC MFG. COMPANY, OF PLAINVILLE, CONN ECTICUT,l A .CORPORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

INcLosnn SWITCH.

Application iled .Tune 24, 1921. Serial No. 479,992. i

My invention relates particularly to interlocking mechanism for so-called safety switches.

It is customary in such constructions to -provide means for preventing the box or receptacle from being opened when the switch is in the closed circuit position;

The main object of the present-invention is to provide means for permitting the opening of the box without opening the switch. To accomplish this purpose Iso construct the parts that the interlock between the cover and the box may be rendered temporarily inoperative by means of a key.

Fig, 1-is a front view of a safety s witch embodying the improvements of my invention with the switch handle in the open circuit position. u

Fig. 2 is a side view showing the switch handle in the closed circuit position. f .v l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of part of .the interlocking device showing the interlocking bolt in dot and dash lines-in the disengaged position.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the interlocking parts which are attached v,to or carriedby the body of the box.

Fig. 5 is a sectional'iew-of the interlocking parts.

Fig. 6 is an interiorview-ofthe inter-v may house any suitable kind of switch mechanism. The cover will be usually hinged along one edge, in this case along the left hand edge as viewed in' Fig. 1. The operating handle 12 is'pivoted in one side of the box and may have la hub 13 lconnectedgdjrectly or indirectly to it, the hub in turn carrying a crank or arm 14 for operating the switch mechanismpper (not shown). The box may be provided with a snap catch 15 ada ted to operate through an opening 16 in t e cover. The handle and box may also be provided with members such as 17 and 18 which may be conveniently connected together either by padlockor/a sealing wire (notshown). j .i u.

On the inside of the box a notched Ydisc 19 is secured to the hub of the handle and adapted to be engaged by a pivoted latch 2O when the switchis in the open circuit position and the cover is openl as ,shownin Fig.

6. This latch 2O is held yieldingly again the member 19 by means of a spring 21. pin or projection 22 carried by the cover is adapted to enter the notch 23 in the side of the box and engage the inclined shoulder 24 of the latch 2O as the cover is being closed. This action retracts the latch 2O from its engagement 'withthe handle locking notch in the disc 19, so the switch handle and switch mechanism may be operated to open or close the circuit as desired.v With't'he switch in the closed circuit position, the disc 19 is in the position of Fig. 7 with the latch 20 held by means of the disc so that the shoulder 25 stands in the `path of the projection 22 and normally prevents the cover from being opened.

To permit the cover to be. opened when the switch' is in the closed circuit position, it will be seen that it is simply necessary to retract either the latch 2O or the projection 22. I accomplish this by mounting the rojection 22 so that it may be retracted.

member 26 which carries the projection 22 is provided with flanges 27 and 28, some of which are Secured to the cover. The projection 22 is carried by a spring arm 29 in such a position that the key 30 inserted 32 may retract the arm 29 and the locking bolt 22.l as indicated by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 3. The shoulder 33'acts as a stop or abutment for the blade of4 the key in the dotted position of Fig. 3. When the projection 22 is retracted, it is clear that the cover .may be opened without opening the circuit through the switch and the cover may be closed again when desired. So also, it will'be noted that when the cover has been' opened with the switch in the closed circuit position,l there is nothing to prevent' the switch boing opened, although as soon as it is open the latch'20 will snap into the notch and the disc 19 and'l'ock the switch in the open circuit position.

1, Inman inclosed switch construction, a casing including a body and a movable cover, a switch operating member within f said casing, an operating handle outside oi -through the key slot 31 and into vthe step said casing connected vto said member, a

` latch Within said casing adapted to hold the switch member in the open circuit position when the cover is opened,\a latch retractls ingmember .carried by the inside of said -cover and including a spring arm, -means carried by said latch normally cooperating with said retracting member to hold the. cover closed when the switch is in the closed in ircuit position, '.and -a removable member adapted to engage saidspring arm to operate said latch retracting member.

2. In an inclosed switch a casing including a hinged cover, a switch and an operatingl member for said switch mountedinside of said casing, an operating handle outside o f said casing connected to said operating member, a latch within saidcasing for engaging said operating.y member t'o lock" the switch in the open -circuit position when the cover is open, a bracket carried by'the Ainside of said cover, a movable bolt carried by said bracket for normally engaging said latch to lock the cover closed when the `2li switch is in the closed circuit position, said cover having means for receiving a key for disengagmg sald bolt from said latch and releasmg said cover'.

3. An inclosedswitcli comprising a casing, $0 -acover hinged at one edge thereof, a switch mounted within said casing,`a `switch operating member witlrin saidcasing, a latch (3o-operating with said operating member to hold the switch in the open circuit position when the cover is open, a bracket car-v ried by the inside -of said cover, a spring carried by said bracket, a bolt carried-by said spring and adapted normally to col act with said latch to lock'the cover closed when the switch is in the closed circuit position, said cover having a key receivingliole whereby a removable key may be inserted to engage said spring and retract said bolt from engagement With said latch.

4. An inclosed switch comprising a box lincluding a body and va cover, a switch mounted within said box, a spring'arm carried by the inside of said cover, a bolt carried by and movable with said arm, a latch mounted in said box normally co-acting with said bolt to hold the coverclosed when the switch is in a closed circuit position, said BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL. 

